Best way to store a brush with poly between coats- aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran wrap

[EricWoodworker]

What is the best way to keep a brush soft between coats of poly? Wrap it in aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran Wrap? I’ve been keeping a film of mineral spirits on the brush and in a plastic paint brush holder but it still gets stiff and never returns to it’s original softness

[Just Another Joe]

On Sep 15, 2024, EricWoodworker wrote
(in

Post by EricWoodworker
What is the best way to keep a brush soft between coats of poly? Wrap it in
aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran Wrap? I’ve been
keeping a film of mineral spirits on the brush and in a plastic paint brush
holder but it still gets stiff and never returns to it’s original softness.

What works for me is to use a zip lock bag, wich will normally keep things
useable overnight. If that needs to be extended, I put it in the refrigerator
and can extend that time to at least 2 or 3 days. Make sure to get your
wife’s permission to use the refrigerator...

Joe

[Leon]

Post by EricWoodworker
What is the best way to keep a brush soft between coats of poly? Wrap it
in aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran Wrap? I’ve
been keeping a film of mineral spirits on the brush and in a plastic
paint brush holder but it still gets stiff and never returns to it’s
original softness.

Well that would heavily depend on what kind of finish you are using.

Water based, rinse it out with water. Oil based, clean in mineral
spirits. Alcohol, clean in alcohol.

While these steps may seem obvious, if the product is drying out, clean
the brush is the simplest solution.

[Leon]

Post by EricWoodworker
What is the best way to keep a brush soft between coats of poly? Wrap it
in aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran Wrap? I’ve
been keeping a film of mineral spirits on the brush and in a plastic
paint brush holder but it still gets stiff and never returns to it’s
original softness.

Well that would heavily depend on what kind of finish you are using.

Water based, rinse it out with water. Oil based, clean in mineral
spirits. Alcohol, clean in alcohol.

While these steps may seem obvious, if the product is drying out, clean
the brush is the simplest solution.

[Leon]

Post by EricWoodworker
What is the best way to keep a brush soft between coats of poly? Wrap it
in aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran Wrap? I’ve
been keeping a film of mineral spirits on the brush and in a plastic
paint brush holder but it still gets stiff and never returns to it’s
original softness.

Well that would heavily depend on what kind of finish you are using.

Water based, rinse it out with water. Oil based, clean in mineral
spirits. Alcohol, clean in alcohol.

While these steps may seem obvious, if the product is drying out, clean
the brush is the simplest solution.

[Joe Gwinn]

Post by Leon

Post by EricWoodworker
What is the best way to keep a brush soft between coats of poly? Wrap it
in aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran Wrap? I’ve
been keeping a film of mineral spirits on the brush and in a plastic
paint brush holder but it still gets stiff and never returns to it’s
original softness.

Well that would heavily depend on what kind of finish you are using.
Water based, rinse it out with water. Oil based, clean in mineral
spirits. Alcohol, clean in alcohol.
While these steps may seem obvious, if the product is drying out, clean
the brush is the simplest solution.

Best way to clean shellac out of a brush is ammonia, if you can still
get strong enough solutions.

Joe

[Scott Lurndal]

Post by Joe Gwinn

Post by Leon

Post by EricWoodworker
What is the best way to keep a brush soft between coats of poly? Wrap it
in aluminum foil or wax paper or something else like Saran Wrap? I’ve
been keeping a film of mineral spirits on the brush and in a plastic
paint brush holder but it still gets stiff and never returns to it’s
original softness.

Well that would heavily depend on what kind of finish you are using.
Water based, rinse it out with water. Oil based, clean in mineral
spirits. Alcohol, clean in alcohol.
While these steps may seem obvious, if the product is drying out, clean
the brush is the simplest solution.

Best way to clean shellac out of a brush is ammonia, if you can still
get strong enough solutions.

For shellac you can just let the brush harden. Next time you need it
let it sit for 15 minutes or so in a jar of denatured alcohol.